NM leaders to discuss economic future study

HOBBS, N.M. Community leaders will meet this week to discuss the results of a federally funded economic study of southeastern New Mexico that shows a rocky road lies ahead.

''It takes a pretty hard look at how we measure up to other communities,'' said Loraine Allen, director of the Carlsbad Department of Development. ''It shows we have a lot of work to do.''

The U.S. Department of Energy-sponsored report deals with such issues as economic structure, unplanned land use, lagging education and labor skills and New Mexico's inability to be a player in economic development and sustain its own environment, Lea County Manager Dennis Holmberg said this week in a written statement.

But the $325,000 study also paves the way for future federal grants.

''This process is the first step in qualifying for federal (money) that we might be eligible for through the Department of Energy,'' Holmberg said. ''It is my understanding that other communities have received financial assistance for downtown revitalization programs, (money) to enhance industrial parks, etc.''

Officials hope federal funds will allow them to study and target projects for the Hobbs Industrial Air Park, said Janet Seagrave, director of the Lea County Economic Development Corp.

Traditionally southeastern New Mexico, namely Lea and Eddy counties, has relied on oil and gas, manufacturing and some tourism as major industry. But any downturn in the global oil market, as illustrated in the last year, can cause serious problems with unemployment and tax revenue levels.

Economic developers have been aware of the challenges they face for at least three years, when officials in Hobbs conducted a similar study, Seagrave said.

''This is just an affirmation of what that study had done,'' Seagrave said. ''We wanted to see if there are any opportunities that we're missing.''

Seagrave likened the challenge to those in West Texas, but because of fewer resources at the New Mexico Department of Economic Development, local officials must put additional time and effort into the process.

''They try to do the best they can, but with the continual budget cuts it makes it more difficult,'' she said. The department lost a third of its budget during the last legislative session, she said.

Hobbs officials have spent time attracting dairies and cheese makers to the area, as well as other manufacturing and marketing centers. A recent conference in Chicago has netted interest from marketing consultants.

''We have been overwhelmed with calls from consultants that are looking at siting a call center,'' Seagrave said. Local efforts have ''always generated more calls and inquiries than the state can provide. We have no choice but to do our own advertising and promotion.''

Among the region's weaknesses are its isolation from major cities and lack of major transportation and airline service, Allen said.

''They're problems that everybody's working on, but they're not easy to solve,'' Allen said. ''This is to help us chart our future and help us work together to solve our problems.''

The Lea County Commission will hold its public meeting at 6 p.m. Tuesday at the Lea County Office Complex, 1923 N. Dal Paso in Hobbs.